Editorial Commentary

History Lesson

Put no faith in presidents seeking energy independence

THE PRESIDENT WAS WORRIED about inflation and the high price of energy: "We will break the back of the energy crisis; we will lay the foundation for our future capacity to meet America's energy needs from America's own resources," said Richard M. Nixon in his State of the Union speech during the Arab oil embargo in January 1974.

"Let this be our national goal: At the end of this decade, in the year 1980, the United States will not be dependent on any other country for the energy we need to provide our jobs,...